Why would you let the driver do the job? Or do I misunderstand you?
cheers,
Remko
N.B. Suggestion: have a look at the extensive review over at PhotoPXL of the Epson P900. If something has changed, the chance is that it will be mentioned and explained how to handle it. The review is that thorough.
The P900 also has the EMI.
Well, because it works. 😎 I've watched several Youtube videos about the P900 and EMI. The main idea is, you create a custom paper incl. all detail settings like margin, roll diameter, suction, paper thickness, platen gap etc. AND the ICC profile from the paper manufacturer. Now you can register your paper at the printer. When loading the paper, you choose the corresponding paper at the printer.
Now when printing out of Lightroom, Photoshop or any other application, you choose "colors by printer" and within the driver just instead of choosing a paper type, you can select "use printer settings". As you already have choosen the paper profile incl. the ICC profil at the printer when loading the paper, all settings are done.
So far the theory. I tested several papers now (Tecco PD190, PFR295, PFR220, PPG250). At least for these papers it seams to work quite well.
At least for the PD190 and PFR220 the colors are slightly more saturated, reds are a bit less orange and the contrast is a bit higher compared to prints, where I used the Lightroom color management (same ICC profile).
Thx for the hint to the PXL review. Gonna look at this too. Personally, I really like the concept of installing custom media incl. all paper specific settings and ICC profil right on the printer. Less possible error you can do in Lightroom/driver. But at least I have to figure out the thing with the reds. The results with Lightroom CM are looking a bit closer to the EIZO screen. But honestly contrast and saturation (which comes higher using the printer for CM) are closer to what I see on my screen.
Update
I also tested the Ilford Smooth Cotton RAG. Here the CM process via printer does not work. Prints are way to cold and also the dark areas look aweful. No contrast, no blacks.. I guess this is, what many (also here at LL forum) say about the EMI. Sometimes it works, sometimes not. 🙈
Update 2
Had a firmware update for the printer (now done), restarted my Mac and reregistered the ILFORD smooth cotton rag. Tried again with CM via printer. Print now looks okay. Still, it's to cold. But general colors and okay, contrast and blacks are good.
So far, it seems you have to figure for which paper/ICC profile the Epson workflow works and for which not. 🙈